ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Wildfires have intensified across southern Europe, particularly in Greece, Spain, Turkey, and Albania, leading to tragic loss of life and significant challenges for firefighters. On Wednesday, a nightlong battle ensued to protect the perimeter of Greece’s third-largest city, as authorities reported at least three fatalities due to the raging wildfires.

In Greece, firefighters faced significant challenges outside the port city of Patras, where flames swept through olive groves, threatening homes and agricultural facilities. The situation was dire, with local residents joining the efforts to combat the flames, utilizing cut branches and buckets of water to douse the fire. Aerial support was provided by water-dropping planes and helicopters that rotated among various fire outbreaks on the western Greek mainland, the Patras area, and the island of Zakynthos.

The Greek capital, Athens, also extended its assistance to neighboring Albania, which is grappling with its own wildfire crisis. Reports indicate that an 80-year-old man lost his life in a blaze south of Tirana, the Albanian capital. In this region, evacuations took place in four villages near a former army ammunition depot, amid concerns of explosions from buried World War II-era artillery shells in the southern Korca district, close to the Greek border.

In Spain, wildfires have also wreaked havoc, particularly in the Castile and León region, north of Madrid. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed condolences following the death of a firefighting volunteer. His government has raised the national emergency response level, preparing additional support for regional authorities managing mass evacuations and highway closures as thousands have been displaced due to the wildfires.

Turkey has been combatting severe wildfires since late June, with officials reporting the death of a forestry worker on Wednesday due to an accident involving a fire truck. This incident adds to the grim toll of the wildfires, as a total of 18 people have been reported dead, including 10 rescue volunteers and forestry workers who perished during the month of July.

As firefighting resources remain thin and stretched across affected regions in Southern Europe, the international community is responding to the crisis, deploying resources to combat the ongoing outbreaks. The efforts underscore the challenges posed by climate change and the pressing need for coordinated action to manage this escalating crisis.